Who/what: Mostly deaf individuals peacefully protest against the Listening and Spoken Language Symposium put on by the Alexander Graham Bell Association. Many of the participants were part of the Audism Free America association. This conference had a very strong tie to companies that sell cochlear implants as the majority of the workshops, displays and exhibitions had to do with helping to "fix" deafness. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted medical devices that are able to recognize sound via a microphone and directly transmit that sound to the brain by stimulating nerves of the ear (often totally bypassing the part of the ear that does not function properly) thereby allowing such individuals the ability to somewhat hear.
When: Protest occurred July 18, 2013.
Where: Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Why: This particular protest movement is interesting because it is not necessarily unique but is instead the culmination of many years of frustrations shared by the Deaf Community. This protest was one of several that had happened at similar events across the country over the years (including one in Washington DC in 2011). However, the prevailing view is the same: distrust for the Alexander Graham Bell Association and issue with deaf oppression.
The most important identity that this protest is concerned with exposing is Deafness as opposed to deafness (Deaf Pride). Deaf individuals take pride in being deaf and do not necessarily view deafness as a disability. Therefore, when the AGB Association hosted symposiums dedicated to the promotion of cochlear implant technology, some of the deaf community became outraged and were worried that some of their culture (Sign Language) would begin to die off. This also created the term "Audism" and began the concern that the AGB Association was performing a varied method of eugenics.
Works Cited:
AudismFreeAmerica. "AUDISM FREE AMERICA." : July 2013. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Bauman, H-D. L. "Audism: Exploring the Metaphysics of Oppression." Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 9.2 (2004): 239-46. Web.
Ringo, Allegra. "Understanding Deafness: Not Everyone Wants to Be 'Fixed'"The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 9 Aug. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
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